Billie Piper up for porn prize for ITV call-girl role

Actress Billie Piper has accidentally found herself nominated for a porn industry award. Her ITV series The Secret Diary of a Call Girl, based on the novel by the anonymous 'Belle du Jour', in which Piper plays a high-class prostitute, is up for the 'best soft core production' prize at the UK Adult Film and Television Awards on November 29. It is the only mainstream television project nominated for an award – the majority of which go to less high-profile cable TV productions, under such categories as most outrageous scene, best transsexual release and pay-per-view channel of the year.

Contacted by The First Post this morning, Billie Piper's agency, Artists Rights Group, were surprised by the nomination. "This is the first I've heard of it," said a spokesman, "What is it for?" Perhaps they are giving more thought to another prize-giving ceremony the same week - the rather more prestigious Evening Standard theatre awards on November 27 where Piper is shortlisted for the best actress prize.

The nomination is for her work in this year's new production of the 1975 Christopher Hampton play Treats. While performing in Treats, Piper, previously married to DJ and entrepreneur Chris Evans, met her new boyfriend, co-star Laurence Fox. Piper admitted that Fox was 'uncomfortable' with some of the steamier sex scenes she had to film for The Secret Diary of a Call Girl.